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Looking for a low-cost LCD isn't as easy as you may think. You might know what size you want, but what about rated contrast ratio? Pixel response time? Viewing angle? Features? There's more than just size and style to look for when checking the latest LCDs.

The sweet spot for consumers has become 19-inch LCDs. With such a small price delta between 17-inch and 19-inch models, there's almost no reason not to go for more screen real estate. We have a few guidelines to ensure you get the most bang for your buck.

Rated contrast ratio is something many LCD manufacturers use to define color representation. It's actually a measurement of the difference in light intensity between the brightest white and the darkest black. The higher the ratio, the better color representation. For example, the Samsung SyncMaster 193p Plus and the Planar PX1910M both have a reported contrast ratio of 1000:1, whereas the ViewSonic VX924 is rated at 550:1. To the naked eye viewing video or Web pages, monitors with a high contrast ratio will produce a brighter picture.

There's a lot of hype around pixel response time. First, it's important to note that companies tend to report different pixel response times. Some report black to white, (the time it takes for a pixel to go from off to on), while others report gray to gray (a transition from one shade of gray to another).

What it all boils down to is that the faster the pixel response time, the better viewing experience you'll have for motion video and gaming. The ViewSonic VX924 is currently one of the fastest LCDs on the market, with a 3-millisecond (gray to gray) response time.

Viewing angle tells you where you can be standing/sitting in relation to the monitor and still get a clear picture. For example, the Samsung SyncMaster 193p Plus has an impressive viewing angle of 178 degrees, which means you can be standing almost next to the monitor (180 degrees) and still have a clear view of what's on the screen. Monitors tend to have viewing angles between 160 and 178 degrees.

Last but not least, check out the various features of the LCD. One important feature is the number and placement of ports. You should look for a monitor with both DVI-D and analog ports (which not only ensures that the monitor will work with your existing video card but lets you share it between two computers. Some monitors even come with built-in speakers. If more than one person will be using the display, look for a monitor with a high degree of adjustability, including tilt, swivel and height adjustments. Also, if you'll be working with large text documents, a panel that pivots to portrait mode makes it easier to read entire pages in a vertical orientation.

Now that you're armed with the basic information, we have five top-rated LCDs to choose from. You can scan them easily in our side-by-side LCD monitor comparison table, or check out the full reviews below.

IN THIS REVIEW:

Philips 190P6
This 190P6 is loaded with features, which includes speakers and a 4-port USB hub.

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